Saturday, October 14, 2006

 

Oilers Game Day-Avalanche

Record: 2-1-0Record: 1-0-2
Preview


• Hmm. Anyone else feel a post-comeback-victory stinker approaching?

• Colorado hasn't played a game since last Sunday againt the Canucks. So either they are really rested, or realy rusty. Expect a CBC announcer to determine a causal relationship, despite the fact that none exists, depending on how the Avalanche play. Then again, I just suggested one for the Oilers, so I should probably shut up.

• Roli has stopped 83 of 90 shots on the year, and has a nice .916 Save Percentage, 15th in the NHL. But four other goalies above him have only played 2 games on the season, and three of those are either #1B or #2 on their teams (Aebischer, Emery, Dunham). He certainly doesn't make me pine for the good ol' days of Conkannen. I imagine he draws in tonight and Tuesday against the Canucks, and Jussi plays Monday.

• San Pisani is due. No points, and only three shots on the year.

• I've only seen the two games, but Tjarnqvist and Smid seem to be holding their own.

• The Oilers are 6th in the NHL on the Powerplay (27.8%), and 9th on the Penalty Kill (88%). I'm stunned. Colorado actually hasn't given up a powerplay goal all year, in 12 attempts against.

• Ales Hemsky is currently averaging 4 PIM a game, and 1PT a game. He is leading the team in +/-, however. Make of that what you will. I certainly can't make anything of it.

Jerseys and Hockey Love and Colorado Avalance Blog, the two Aves blogs I know of, are both relatively silent. Six days off will do that. I did find out that Brad May has his own website, however. I always find it interesting that hockey tough guys have web pages where their humanitarian activities are listed right beside a picture of them turning some guys face into pudding. And check out the Hocky Cats who dance. The Mike Commodore is particularly inspired.

• Oh, and if you have several free hours to kill, check out Java Geek's post on faceoffs. It's very good. I'm still recovering from this piece of poetry:
Σ FOai* pa2 = Σ FWai*pa2+ Σ FWai*pb2
Or
Σ FOai* pa2 – Σ FWai*pa2 – Σ FWai*pi2 = 0
The nice thing is that this is equivalent to:
– Σ FLa*pa2 + Σ FWai*pi2 = 0

Well, duh! Yeats, eat your heart out!

Prediction: 7-3 Oil. Sykora (2), Lupul, Pisani, Horcoff, Moreau, and Staios.

Comments:

Well, I'm awake now.
 


How the hell does Hemsky manage to get penalties? Is this supressed rage or an expression of "you signed me suckas"?

Jussi Jussi!
 


Maybe the funniest thing on this site is that Grabia is stuck in 2004 and thinks the Oilers have a bad PP.
 


Maybe the funniest thing about this site is that it advertises itself as source of information on both parties of the "Battle of Alberta", yet 95% of the content is Oiler related.

I mean honestly, can you not find one writer who could provide an proportionate amount of Flames related content? I'm sure there are dozens of bloggers who would love to fill the role of "Flames correspondent" if given the opportunity. Perhaps a help wanted ad is warranted to bring some balanced coverage back to this site?
 


mclea sure is good at complaining!
 


I think regular visitors to this site are aware that a) Grabia is a prolific writer. The man writes in his sleep and has to contain himself from writing more. And b) that Matt has been mildly pre-occupied with the regular, working world. The kind of world that pays his bills and affords him such luxuries as a computer to write with in his spare time.

Granted, the output of late has seemed to be about 5 Oiler posts for every 1 Flames post, but I say that's just art imitating life. If you scroll back to the 'Battle of Ontario' post I think Matt makes it pretty clear that a) he's been a little busy, and b) he'll be back in action next week. In the meantime, I'm glad Grabia has been keeping things fresh on a daily basis, which is more than can be said for every other Blog in the Oliogosphere and... and... Hey, what do we call the Flamers bloggers' world? The Flamosphere, Flametopia? The firey pitts of Hell?

Either way, quit yer bitchin' mclea, or start sending Matt some cash.
 


Mclea,

The Oilogosphere like all blogs has grown from a set of people who just started doing it. Sacamano went over the ocean and Grabia was elected replacement. He also posts alot. What are you gonna do?

I'm sure all some readers would enjoy a little more Flame content. I doubt that anyone who is interested in that couldn't just email Matt to volunteer.
 


"Either way, quit yer bitchin' mclea, or start sending Matt some cash."

A few points:

First off, I'm not bitching. I'm just making the reasonable suggestion that maybe it would make sense to add another writer to provide Flames related content given Matt's obligations elsewhere. Like I said previously, I know there are dozens of writers out there that could make valuable contributions to this site, and in turn, bring more balance back to the coverage of the two teams.

Secondly, I realize that all the content here is free, and that if I don't like I should just piss off. But at the same time, I wouldn't waste my time writing this if I didn't believe in the site and its contributors. This site is far and away one of the most established hockey blogs on the net, and I think it's a wasted opportunity to not have Flames related content on a regular basis given the amount of people who would gladly volunteer to provide it.

My concern is that there are countless good writers that never have their opinions heard because their blog gets lost with the thousands of other hockey related blogs that exist on the net. I believe that these same writers would gladly volunteer their time in order to have access to the kind of audience that is drawn to the BOA, as it would provide a ready made readership without having to resort to fauxrumors like spamming to drive traffic to their blogs.

Just a thought.
 


It's a fair one Mclea. Point taken. But I will add that last year Matt posted at a similar pace to mine. He just hasn't had the time yet. He'll be back, don't worry.

I'll be happy to say the Oil PP doesn't suck, RiversQ. I'm just not convinced yet. Razzle dazzle me with your numbers.
 


I can't right now Mudcrutch...

I'm too busy reading your post from last tuesday... lol.
 


Oh sure, post one now why dontcha...
 


You sir, can eat a bowl of dicks.

Don't be mad just because he hammered you in our baseball league, MC.
 


Are you referring to this, mud?
 


"If your site is good, people will come."

Maybe a few years ago this was true, but not anymore. There are so many blogs out there now that it's impossible to sort through all the mess to pull out the really good ones.

" I didn't realize that it's because they won't start something unless handed readers on a platter."

So what's the alternative? Spamming popular blogs like fauxrumors does? Getting your blog added to a links list that is already 50 blogs strong? I don't understand why you think that good content in itself will drive traffic to a blog. Survival of the fittest just doesn't apply anymore because the blogosphere has become so ridiculously oversaturated.
 


Intelligent commenting will get people to click on your name. If you have a blog, they'll check it out. If it's good, they'll come back.
 


I have no problem with people emailing me the links to their blog. In fact, a post calling for additions to the blogroll is on my list of things to do. It just doesn't guarantee that I'll add it. I want to make sure there is enough content that I know the site will last, and that the content is of reasonable quality. If the person can't take the time to edit their work, I won't take the tame to add them.

But can we please talk about hockey? I mean, Bob Cole and Cassie Campbell are calling this Flames/Leaf game. How is this not what we are talking about?
 


If the person can't take the time to edit their work, I won't take the tame to add them.

Funny Shit

Bob Cole and Cassie Campbell are calling this Flames/Leaf game. How is this not what we are talking about?

I was just trynig to think of a nice way to say that shitty color commenting does not discriminate genders.
 


"Because I started a website with nothing but what I believe to be good content and it's done fairly well?"

Well I'm sure you understand that just because something is true for you doesn't necessarily mean it's true for everybody else.

Look, the crux of my argument is this: We have hundreds of people a day coming to the BOA looking for Flames related content, and we have X amount of writers who are willing to volunteer their time to provide this content. So instead of having people probing around the web searching for something that may or may not be there, why not centralize everything and save everyone the trouble? The readers get the content they desire, the deserving writer gets the audience he/she always wanted, and the site becomes more popular as a result. Everyone benefits as far as I can see.

"well, maybe you're just receiving a hard lesson from the marketplace of ideas."

Well I never heard of Grabia before he started posting on the BOA, and I enjoy his contributions, so I don't see how my suggestion is that different from what they have already done at this site.

In any case, I'm not looking to pick a fight with you Tyler, nor am I trying to force my opinion down anyone's throat. I just think this is an interesting topic and I think it's good that we're kicking around some ideas.
 


Matt's busy. He'll be back next week. Can we talk hockey again?

Here's some Flames content: You're losing 2-0 to the Leafs in front of a national audience. Discuss.
 


FUCK ME. FUCKING MAGGLIO ORDONEZ.
 


Woo Woo Maggs. Think I'll keep him for next year.
 


Cherry loves Phaneuf. Best news I heard all day. Totally justifies my dislike of Quasimodo.
 


What the hell do hits have to do with the Norris trophy? Cherry is absolutely insane.
 


If the person can't take the time to edit their work, I won't take the tame to add them.

That's humiliating, by the way.
 


I need to stop watching this game. Either way I lose.
 


Something to cheer you up Grabia:

Alex Tanguay: 5 games played, 1 goal, 1 assist, +/- 0, 4 pim's...

$$$ Five. Million. Dollars. $$$

There, don't you feel better now?

I thought Cassie Campbell's delivery was pretty weak, but that's to be a little expected, being her first night on HNIC.
 


That does cheer me up!
 


I don't know about anyone else but I ran across this site from Lowtide, and I ran across Lowtide when I got sick of Bob McKenzie and all the other experts at TSN, Sportsnet, and whoever else. His blog was damn well thought out, relevant, and that man posts at a torrid pace; even in the dead of summer.

I come back here because the content is good. Say what you will, but if you have good content eventually people will come. I've visited at least a hundred hockey blogs it seems, but there are only 7 I come back to fairly frequently, and there is a reason for that. I can't believe that Andy, Matt, and Sacamano didn't and don't get paid for this stuff.

Also, am I going crazy or is something up with Lupul? Did someone kidnap his pet dog threaten to kill it if he didn't backcheck and play defence?
 


Guys in contract years always do (as Exhibit A, I offer you Jarmoe Iggy, 2002, 2004). My man Tanguay seems to be suffering from the usual early season big contract jitters. Hopefully he gets over this. Hopefully Pisani/Moreau don't.

Roloson seems to be earning his ridiculous money right now.

Go Flames! Four goals tonight!!

PS - Matt, come back soon, please.
 


I have to laugh. After all we've taunted the Flames for not scoring, they finally string four together and they still get beat. Crazy.
 


Glad I could help, Grabs...

here's another...

DANG AM I GLAD IT TOOK SYKORA AS A SLEEPER PICK IN MY POOL!!!! Wooo!

Jeebus, he'd look good in a Canuck uni right now :-)
 


Is it just me or is Roloson looking pretty good thus far?
 


So what's the alternative? Spamming popular blogs like fauxrumors does? Getting your blog added to a links list that is already 50 blogs strong? I don't understand why you think that good content in itself will drive traffic to a blog. Survival of the fittest just doesn't apply anymore because the blogosphere has become so ridiculously oversaturated.

There are really only about 150 hockey blogs, and far less than that which receive substantial traffic. There aren't too many, in any event.

Besides, when I started my site in December, 2004, no one read it for a long, long time. It's a good thing I never started the site with the intention of it becoming popular, because I would have given up early in the process.

I think Tyler's absolutely right: As long as you continue to produce quality content, someone will take notice and eventually there'll be a following.
 


Andy, I hope you didn't not post today because of the comments about the number of posts being disproportionately Oil...
 


Nah. I'm actually really busy with some work stuff, and had to do that. I'm working on one now for tomorrow. Unfortunately, it might just be a lot of bulleted posts for the next week or so.
 


Thanks for the concern, though. I appreciate it.
 


The most hits to my blog I have ever recieved was due to my sense of humor. Someone saw a post (which happened to be the dancing cats), linked to it, and a newspaper guy with a blog in Ft Wayne, IN linked to it. But, if I'm lucky, I can do the work to keep them reading with more content.

I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want the traffic, or the readers. A voice in the dark is pretty lonely, and the bloggers who read JAHL are great for the interaction. I started doing this for the conversation. It sucks not to have that conversation.

Somedays, I wonder if anyone in Colorado reads the hockey blogs. I have no idea of how to get the word out, but then again, I don't want to be just an Avs blog. I like being able to talk about the minors and other stuff. But it would be nice to see some more Colorado readership. Some days it seams like I'm blogging for other bloggers, not just regular hockey fans.
 

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